An article of footwear including a sole, and an upper having a lateral side and a medial side, each including a first lace opening. A lateral lace support and a medial lace support are attached to the sole and positioned adjacent to inner surfaces of the lateral and medial sides of the upper. The lateral lace support has a first length and the medial support has a second length, where the second length is greater than the first length, and each include a second lace opening. A lace is threaded through the first lace openings of the upper and the second lace openings of the lateral lace support and the medial lace support, where an axis extending between the lateral lace support and the medial lace support, after the lace is secured to the upper, is offset from an axis extending from a center of gravity of a user's foot.

A cable lock adapted to temporarily maintain a static position along a cable strung through an article of footwear or apparel includes a housing and a compliant insert. The housing defines an aperture and is formed from a first material. The aperture extends through a thickness of the housing to provide access to the cable. The insert is provided at least partially within the aperture and defining an opening, the insert formed from a second material that is softer than the first material, the insert includes a plurality of cable engaging features extending radially inward from a perimeter of the aperture, the plurality of cable engaging features being adapted to deflect away from a neutral, unstressed plane when a cable is drawn through the opening.

A restraining device configured to inhibit the removal of an article of footwear to which the restraining device is attached is provided. The restraining device will prevent footwear from being removed regardless of the type of fastening means used to secure the footwear to the foot of a wearer and whether the fastening means are fastened. In some embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be permanently attached to an article of footwear. In other embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be removably attached to an article of footwear. In some embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a ring-shaped member, a tightening means, and a locking mechanism. In other embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a restraining strap and a unique locking mechanism.

An article of footwear includes a front end, a rear end, a sole structure, an upper attached to the sole structure, and a strap system engaged with the upper. The upper defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, and the upper and the sole structure together define an interior cavity. The strap system comprises a strap configured to tighten portions of the upper within the heel region in response to the user's toe movement within the interior cavity.

The invention relates to a quick lacing system (10) for releasably fixing at least one shoelace (20) to a housing (30), which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), wherein the channel (40) is at least partly made of a movably mounted rocker (50) with a substantially concave interior (60), which is oriented in the direction of the channel (40), on a first side and at least partly of an eccentric jaw (70), which interacts with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), on a second side substantially opposite the rocker. The invention also relates to a shoe equipped with such a quick lacing system (10).

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for efficiently and rapidly cleaning the bottom of a shoe. The system includes a base having a plurality of alternating, complementary shaped cleansing portions separated by grooves. The configuration of the cleansing portions provides for a sturdy and efficient device for cleaning the bottom of a shoe.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.